God and "Shaky" Faith

It is amazing how beautiful prayer can be. Just listen to the magnificent language Jeremiah uses in his prayer to God:

Jeremiah 32:16–24 ESV

16 “After I had given the deed of purchase to Baruch the son of Neriah, I prayed to the Lord, saying: 17 ‘Ah, Lord God! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you. 18 You show steadfast love to thousands, but you repay the guilt of fathers to their children after them, O great and mighty God, whose name is the Lord of hosts, 19 great in counsel and mighty in deed, whose eyes are open to all the ways of the children of man, rewarding each one according to his ways and according to the fruit of his deeds. 20 You have shown signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, and to this day in Israel and among all mankind, and have made a name for yourself, as at this day. 21 You brought your people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs and wonders, with a strong hand and outstretched arm, and with great terror. 22 And you gave them this land, which you swore to their fathers to give them, a land flowing with milk and honey. 23 And they entered and took possession of it. But they did not obey your voice or walk in your law. They did nothing of all you commanded them to do. Therefore you have made all this disaster come upon them. 24 Behold, the siege mounds have come up to the city to take it, and because of sword and famine and pestilence the city is given into the hands of the Chaldeans who are fighting against it. What you spoke has come to pass, and behold, you see it.

Do you hear how open Jeremiah’s heart is before God? His prayer sounds like it belongs in a hymn book. He extols God’s majestic power over creation. He declares in his own words that nothing is too difficult for God (17). He recounts the ongoing mercy of God as well as his justice. He is the Only Wise God, “great in counsel and mighty in deed” (19). He knows all of mankind’s actions. He exercised his power by redeeming Israel out of Eygpt, giving them an inheritance forever in the Promised Land.

Jeremiah knows all the right words. In fact, if we were listinging to this prayer in person, we might assume that Jeremiah’s faith must be strong.

But we’d be wrong. Verse 25 introduces the crises of faith that the prophet was enduring at that moment:

Jeremiah 32:25 ESV

25 Yet you, O Lord God, have said to me, “Buy the field for money and get witnesses”—though the city is given into the hands of the Chaldeans.’ ”

Just Because You Know the Right Words Doesn’t Mean You Have a Strong Faith

How God Deals with Our “Shaky” Faith

He Reiterates Our Words

Jeremiah 32:26–27 ESV

26 The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: 27 “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for me?

He Proclaims His Justice

Jeremiah 32:28 ESV

28 Therefore, thus says the Lord: Behold, I am giving this city into the hands of the Chaldeans and into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and he shall capture it.

He Reveals His Plan

Jeremiah 32:36–41 ESV

36 “Now therefore thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning this city of which you say, ‘It is given into the hand of the king of Babylon by sword, by famine, and by pestilence’: 37 Behold, I will gather them from all the countries to which I drove them in my anger and my wrath and in great indignation. I will bring them back to this place, and I will make them dwell in safety. 38 And they shall be my people, and I will be their God. 39 I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear me forever, for their own good and the good of their children after them. 40 I will make with them an everlasting covenant, that I will not turn away from doing good to them. And I will put the fear of me in their hearts, that they may not turn from me. 41 I will rejoice in doing them good, and I will plant them in this land in faithfulness, with all my heart and all my soul.

He Fulfills His Promises

Jeremiah 32:42–44 ESV

42 “For thus says the Lord: Just as I have brought all this great disaster upon this people, so I will bring upon them all the good that I promise them. 43 Fields shall be bought in this land of which you are saying, ‘It is a desolation, without man or beast; it is given into the hand of the Chaldeans.’ 44 Fields shall be bought for money, and deeds shall be signed and sealed and witnessed, in the land of Benjamin, in the places about Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, in the cities of the hill country, in the cities of the Shephelah, and in the cities of the Negeb; for I will restore their fortunes, declares the Lord.”